Hydraulic dredge.



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IAppljcation filed Feb. .11, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

INVEJVTOR.

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(No Model.)

. Patnted 001. 3|, I899. B. H. MUEHLE.

HYDRAULIC DREDGE. lApplicntion filed Feb. 11, 1899 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Fig. 7. Fig. 9.

INVENTOR.

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BERNARD HUGO MUEI-ILE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HYDRAULIC DREDG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,798, dated October31, 1899.

Application filed February 11, 1899. Serial No. 705,355. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LBERNARD HUGO MUEHLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in HydraulicDredges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the class ofdredging-machines designed for removing sand and other material from thebottom of rivers and lakes by means of suction-tubes or other similarexcavating devices; and the objects of my invention are, first,providing a dredge -hull with, one or more spuds or poles sliding up ordown within oscillating sleeves or frames and taking hold of theriver-bottom as a means for moving the dredge-hull and with it thesuction-tube or other excavating device so as to introduce and force thelatter into the material to be excavated; second, the combination andarrangement of a spud moving within an oscillating sleeve having itsfulcrum upon the side or end of the dredge-hull with a mechanismconnected with steam-power on board of the dredge-hull for the purposeof controlling the movements of the latter in any desired direction;third, the construction and arrangement of such mechanism whereby anoperator on board of the dredge may cause and control the verticalmovement of the spud within its sleeve and the oscillations of thesleeve and spud separately, alternately,

. and collectively; fourth, the combination of a pivotal spud at one endof the dredge-hull with one or more oscillating or Walking spuds at theopposite end, which also'carries the ex-.

cavating device, so that the hull may be moved laterally aboutthepivotal spud; and, fifth, the combination of a pivotal spud at one endof the dredge-hull with an oscillating or walking spud operated bysuitable mechanism by means of which the dredge hull may be shiftedalong the axis of the channel to be dredged and the position of thepivotal spud changed as required during the progress of dredgingoperations.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of adredge, showing the general features of my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is asectional side elevation of one end or the bow of the dredge. Fig. 3 isan end elevation,

Fig. 4 a rear elevation, and Fig. 5 a top plan view, of the same. Fig. 6is a horizontal section on line X X. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the otherend or stern of the dredge. Fig. Sis a plan view of the same; Fig. 9, aside elevation; Fig. 10, a vertical section on line Y Y, and Fig. 11 ahorizontal section on line Z Z.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in each of the figures.

The dredge-hull (shown at A) has atits stern end a central recess,within which a suctiontube is made vertically adjustable, so that itscutting or suction end may be held at the depth below the water-surfaceto which the channel is to be dredged.

B is a pivotal spud which is located at the opposite end or bow of thedredgehull. It has a round and pointed foot, so that it may when droppedto the river-bottom penetrate the soil sufficiently to take a firm hold.It is held in a vertical position between perpendicular timbers or wayssecured to the dredgehull and may be raised and lowered either ashereinafter described or in any common and well-known manner. Alongsideof this pivotal spud there is a recess in the hull or a projectingframe, within which the spud O is so adjusted that it may be raised andlowered as well as given a rocking or oscillating motion in a directionparallel to the sides of the dredge-hull. To accomplish this, the spudis held within a vertical sleeve or framework 0, the lower end of whichis supported upon an axle revolving in bearings upon the dredgehull, asshown at 0 This sleeve 0 may be constructed in the form of a cylinder ortube the bore of which is a trifle larger than the cross-sectional areaof the spud or pole and should be provided with friction-rollers attopand bottom for the purpose of insuring a free movement of the spudlengthwise within the sleeve. It is shown in the drawings in a moresimple form, which is designed to facilitate the removal of the spudwhen the dredge is not in use.

The operating mechanism for causing an oscillating motion of the sleeveand a vertical movement of the spud within it is arranged upon suitableframework on the deck near the end of the dredge-hull.

D is the main shaft, which may be connected with the dredge machinery bymeans of the chain-wheel d, and is made to revolve in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 2. A pinion d upon this shaft is geared with twospurwheels, one above it, E, and theother below, F, upon counter-shafts,as shown. The lower counter-shaft also carries a chain-wheel or drum F,which is loose upon the shaft and may be moved laterally by means of theleverf so that it will either be at rest or when brought into contactwith the spur wheel upon its shaft revolve with the same. One end of achain f is attached to the drum F and the other to the lower end of thespud C, passing over the guide-roller f When the drum is revolved, thechain will be wound up on it, and thus the spud O lifted from theriverbottom. For the purpose of holding the spud at any desired heightwhen the drum F is disconnected from the spur-wheel F a ratchetwheel isattached to the drum and a pawl to the lever f substantially as shown. Asimilar device consisting of the drum B, lever 12*, chain 5 andguide-roller maybe connected with the same spur-wheel F, as shown, andused for raising and lowering the pivotal spud B.

When it is desired to shift the dredge along the axis of the channel andchange the position of the pivotal spud B, the spud O is first loweredby lifting the pawl from the ratchetwheel on the drum F, thus permittingthe latter to revolve and pay out the chain until the spud has reachedthe river-bottom and taken a firm hold. is raised and held suspended,while an oscillating motion is imparted to the sleeve 0 and spud C bymeans of the chain e one end of which is connected with an adjustableclevis or ring-bolt 0 near the upper end of the spud. The other end ofthe chain being attached to the drum E, a few revolutions of the drumcaused by contact with the spur-wheel E will wind up the chain and pullthe upper end of the spud 0 toward the drum. The spud having a firm holdon the river-bottom and oscillating upon the axle of the sleeve 0, thedredge-hull is thus forced ahead in the direction in which the upper endof the spud is inclined, this movement being parallel to the sides ofthe dredge-hull and along the axisof the dredge cut. As soon as thedredge has thus been moved the required distance the drum E isdisconnected from the spur-wheel E by means of the lever 6 the pivotalspud is again dropped to the river-bottom, and the spud C raised andheld suspended until it becomes necessary to make another forwardmovement along the axis of the channel.

vVhile the bow of the dredge-hull is held firmly in place by the pivotalspud B, a circular movement around this spud is then imparted to thestern of the dredge-hull and the suction-tube or other excavating deviceattached thereto by means of a pair of oscillating or walking spudssimilar in construction and operation to that of the spud C at the bow.While a single spud would Then the pivotal spud B fully answer thispurpose, I prefer, in order to make the circular movement of thedredgehull continuous and excavation uninterrupted, to use two spuds Gand H, as shown in Fig. 7.

The sleeves G and 11, one upon each side of the recess at the stern ofthe dredge-hull, are supported upon axles revolving within sockets orbearings bolted to the frame of the hull, as shown at g and 72. Thespuds or poles G and H slide freely up or down within the sleeves.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the spuds is similar to thatprovided for the spud O. The pinion .T is connected by means of suitablegearing with the main shaft K, which may be revolved by a separateengine or connected with the steam-power which drives the excavatingmachinery. The pinion also gears With one of a pair of spur-wheels L andM, which are supported upon parallel counter-shafts, projecting over theend of the dredge-hull. These spur-wheels are also in gear with eachother and are made to revolve in opposite directions, as shown byarrowsin Fig. 7.

Chain wheels or drums L and M turn loosely upon the counter-shafts whichcarry the spur-wheels and may be brought into contact and revolve withthe latter by means of the clutch-levers and m The chains Z and m oneend of each of which is attached to the lower end of one of the spudsGand H and the other end to one of the drums, also pass overguidefrollers Z and m hen either of the drums is brought into contactwith the spur-wheel upon its shaft by means of the lever Z or mrespectively, the drum will revolve, so as to wind up the chain, andthus the spud to which it is attached will be raised from theriver-bottom. Ratchetqvheels are secured to the drums L and M, andpawls, with levers or foot-treadles Z and m hinged upon the framework.These parts are so arranged that the spuds may be held suspended at anydesired height from the river-bottom as soon as the drums are releasedfrom contact with the spur-wheels, and whenever the pawl is liftedfromthe ratchet the drum will freely revolve in the opposite direction,unwind the chain, and permit the spud to which it is attached to slidedownward within its sleeve until it touches or penetrates and takes afirm hold of the river or lake bottom.

The mechanism for imparting to the spuds G and H a rocking oroscillating motion is arranged upon the upper portion of suitableframework erected on the end of the dredgehull. The main shaft N,carrying the pinion N, may be connected with the shaft K by means ofgearing n and chain or belt a or directly with the steam-power of thedredge in such manner that a continuous rotary motion is given to thepinion N in one direction and to two spur-wheels P and Q, with both ofwhich the pinion is geared, in the opposite direction. The spur-wheels Pand Q are supported upon parallel counter-shafts which project outwardlyfrom the framework and also carry two chain-wheels P and Q. The latterare not keyed to the shafts, and may therefore revolve freely in eitherdirection until they are brought intocontact with the spur-wheels bymeans of the levers T and U.

A pair of guide-rollers p and g are sup ported loosely upon theprojecting end of the main shaft N above the chain-wheels P and Q, andtwo more guide-rollers or chain-wh eels p and g are suspended from eachend of an adjustable framework or extension projecting upon each sidebeyond the dredge-hull, as shown.

In order to cause the spuds to oscillate simultaneously in oppositedirections, two chains R and S are connected by means of adjustableclevises or ring-bolts g and h with the upper ends of the spuds G and Hand passed around the several chain-wheels and guide-rollers in thefollowing manner: The chain R is attached to the spud G, passes aroundthe roller 19 under chain-wheel P, over the roller and terminates at theclevis h' near the top of the spud H. The chain S is connected to theopposite side of the clevis h on the spud H, passes around the roller gunder the chain-wheel Q, over the roller 19 and terminates on the spudG.

It will be readily seen that whenever the chain-wheel P is brought intocontact by means of the lever T with the spur-wheel P, so as to revolvewith the same, the spuds G and H will oscillate or rock upon the axlesof their respective supporting-sleeves away from each other, each movingtoward and beyond the respective side of the dredge-hull, and when thechain-wheel Q is brought into contact with the spur-wheel Q by means ofthe lever Uthe spuds G'and H will oscillate upon the axles of theirsleeves toward each other and the center of the dredge-hull.

In the drawings, Fig. 8, the chain-wheel Q has been moved into contactwith the spurwheel Q by pressing the lever U downward, Fig. 9, and thespud H has afirm hold of the river-bottom, while the spud G is heldsuspended upon the chain Z Fig. 7, the chainwheel P, being loose uponits shaft, revolves freely in a directionopposite to that of thechain-wheel Q, as indicated by arrows, and thus the upper ends of thespuds G and H are represented as being drawn toward each other. Themotion of the spud l-I around its point of contact, with theriver-bottom as a fulcrum, causes a lateral movement of the dredge-hullin the same direction in which the upper end. of the spud is moving bythe action of the mechanism above described. The several positions whichthe spuds may be made to assume at each oscillation while resting uponor lifted from the river-bottom are clearly shown by broken lines inFig. 7.

Inasmuch as the excavatin g device projects beyond the end of thedredge-hull, and the latter therefore floats over the river-bottom,which has been leveled, the length of spuds required in connection withmy improved device for moving the dredge-hull may be determined beforethe work of excavation is commenced. The clevises or eyebolts, to whichthe chains are attached, are therefore made adjustable to the spuds atsuch points as may be necessary in accordance with the depth of theproposed channel. This may be done by means of holes in the spuds-say afoot apart-as shown in the drawings, by the use of clamps or any otherconvenient method or device.

The attachment of the chains R and S to the spuds G and H, as shown anddescribed, is preferred on account of the downward strain of the chain,which produces the oscillating motion of the spud resting on theriver-bottom, causing it to obtain and maintain a firmer foothold; butit will be readily seen that the operating mechanism may alsobeconnected to the upper ends of the sleeves and a firm hold of the spudsmade to depend on their weight.

The feet of the spuds are provided with toes or prongs which project atsuch angle each side of the axis of the spuds that one of these prongswill always rest upon or penetrate the riverbottom nearlyperpendicularly no matter at what angle the spuds are placed during theoperation of moving the dredge-hull.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: The pivotal spud B at thebow of the dredge having been dropped to the river-bottom, so as tofirmly hold that end of the hull at the initial point of the proposeddredge cut, an operator takes position at the stern within reach of themechanism actuating the oscillating spuds G and H. These are suspendedby the chains Z and m which are wound upon the drums L and M, held inplace by the pawls and ratchet-wheels. The clevises, to which the chainsR and S are attached, are adjusted to the spuds G and H at such heightas will conform to the depth of the proposed channel and so that thechains will be sufficiently slack to permit one of the spuds to beraised high enough to clear the river-bottom While the other spud ishaving a firm hold of the same. The suction-tube is then lowered withinthe recess until its cutting or suction end is adjusted and held at thedepth to which the channel is to be dredged, and excavation may becommenced. Power being applied to the 'main shaft K, so that it revolvesthe pinions J and N and the spur-wheels L, M, P, and Q, the operator bypressing down on the lever .or treadle m causes the pawl connectedtherewith to be lifted from the ratchet-wheel on the drum M, thuspermitting the latter to freely revolve around its shaft, unwind thechain m and allow the spud H to slide through the sleeve H until itstrikes the river-bottom, one of its prongs penetrating sufficiently tosecure a firm hold, as shown in Fig. 7. Then the operator moves thelever U, so as to cause the chain-wheel Q to come in cont-act with thespur-wheel Q and revolve with the same. Thus an oscillating motion iscommunicated through the chains R and S to the spud 11 in the directionof the center of the dredge-hull, and as the spud has a firm hold on theriverbottom the dredge-hull is moved laterally around the pivotal spud Band the suctiontube or other excavating device forced on the arc of acircle into the material to be dredged. As soon as the top of the spud Hhas reached the extreme limit of its oscillating motion the operatorreturns the lever U to its former position, thereby releasing thechain-wheel Q from the spur-wheel Q. This stops the oscillating motionof the spuds. Then he presses the treadle Z downward, disengaging thepawl from the ratchet-wheel on the drum L in order to drop the otherspud G to the river-bottom, at the same time moving the lever M so as toconnect the drum iv with the spur-wheel M, wind up the chain M and raisethe spud H. The spud G is now in a position to take up and continue thework of moving the dredgehull in the same direction which the spud H hascaused by the oscillating motion above described. For this purpose theattendant presses upon the lever T, bringing the chainwheel 1" intocontact with the spur-wheel P, so as to revolve with the latter. Thisresults in a reversed motion, through the chains R and S, of both thespuds Grand H around the axis of the sleeves G and H, and as the spud Ghas now hold of the river-bottom the dredgehull is propelled in the samedirection as before. By alternately moving the levers T, U, Z and m andthe ratchet levers or treadles Z and m the operator is enabled toregulate and control the vertical movement of each spud within itssleeve and the oscillating motion of both of the spuds in a manner tocause them to alternately take hold of the river-bottom and push thestern of the dredge around the pivotal spud in close imitation of aperson walking and pushing any movable object infront of him. \Vhen thestern of the dredgehull and the excavating device have reached the limitof the proposed channel width on one side of the axis, the operatorreverses the method of producing the vertical and oscillating motions ofthe spuds, and thereby causes the dredge-hull to swing around thepivotal spud on its return movement toward the axis of the channel. Thismay be done with increased speed and for the purpose of cleaning up andinsuring a perfect and uniform level of the river-bottom. By continuingthis reversed motion of the dredge-hull beyond the axis the other halfof the channel is likewise excavated to the required depth in the mannerabove described. As soon as a complete dredge out has thus been made thefull width of the proposed channel on the arc of a circle the center ofwhich is the pivotal spud an attendant proceeds to the bow of thedredge, drops the spud O, raises the pivotal spud l3, moves thedredge-hull lengthwise along the axis of the channel the requireddistance in the manner,

hereinabove described, and again drops the pivotal spud in an advancedposition. The circular movement of the stern of the dredge is thenrepeated, thus making the next and all subsequent circular dredge cutsin like manner, deepening and leveling the riverbottom the full width ofthe proposed channel at each forward shift of the dredge-hull along itsaxis.

A large proportion of the expense of operationisinvolved in the methodsnow commonly used for moving hydraulic dredges from place to place,necessitating the employment of piledrivers and cutter-crews forshifting anchors or other fixed points along the banks or sides of theproposed channels. In order to make a channel of navigable width,several parallel dredge cuts have to be made, and it is often found thatwhen one long out has been completed in soft material its banks havecaved in at the point of beginning.

My invention is designed to provide hydraulic dredges with propellingmechanism by means of which one dredge cut of a navigable width may bemade equal to that of a proposed completed channel, this width beinglimited only by the length of the dredgehnll, or, in other words, bytwice the distance between the pivotal spud at one end of thedredge-hull and the cutting or excavating device at the opposite end.

All the machinery for moving the dredgehull being on board and withinreach and under control of one operator, a great saving in time and inthe number of employees is effected, as well as a continuous anduninterrupted movement of the dredge while in operation. Owing to theabsence of anchors, anchor-lines, piles, or otherobstructions the workof excavation may be carried on Without interfering with navigationalongside of the channel improvement.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A dredge-hull provided with a pivotal spud at one end, and one ormore spuds or poles sliding up or down Within hinged and oscillatingsleeves at the opposite end of said hull which also carriesan excavatingdevice, these parts being so arranged that the hull and excavatingdevice may be moved laterally about the pivotal spud, substantially asdescribed.

2. A dredge-hull provided at one end with a pivotal spud and at theother end, which also carries an excavating device, with two spuds whichmay move freely up or down within hinged sleeves and oscillating inopposite directions and so that the spuds may alternately take hold ofthe river-bottom, whereby the dredge may be moved laterally about thepivotal spud, substantially as described.

3. The combination and arrangement, upon the hull of a dredge, of thespud C, hinged sleeve 0 drum F, leverf chain f and gearing F 61 for thepurpose of raising and lowering the spud Within the sleeve,substantially as herein described.

4. The combination and arrangement, upon the hull of a dredge, of thespud O, sleeve 0, drum E, lever 6 chain c and gearing E d for thepurpose of oscillating said spud, substantially as described.

5. The combination and arrangement, upon the hull of a dredge, of thespuds G and H, sleeves G and H, drums L and M, chains Z and m levers Zand m spur-wheels L and M and pinion J, for the purpose of raising andlowering the spuds, substantially as described.

6. The combination and arrangement,upon the hull of a dredge, of thespuds G and H, sleeves G and H drums L and M, chains Z and m andratchet-levers Z and m for the purpose of holding the spuds suspended,substantially as described.

7. The combination and arrangement,upon the hull of a dredge, of thespuds G and H, chains R and S, spur-wheels P and Q, chain- Wheels P andQ and guide-rollers 19 133, g and g for the purpose of oscillating thesaid spuds in opposite directions, substantially as herein described.

BERNARD HUGO MUEHLE.

Witnesses:

B. G. HARTNER, SYLVANUS PALMER.

